Those who write letters to the editor lend their voice to the community conversation

Published: Monday, January 1, 2007 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, January 1, 2007 at 12:00 a.m.

Bob Stiff, who served as executive editor of The Dispatch for more than 10 years before retiring in February, began a tradition of publishing the names of everyone who wrote a letter to the editor during the previous year. It brings attention to the number of people who added their voice to the community dialogue about a multitude of topics.

I want to continue that tradition, so appearing here today are the names in alphabetical order of everyone who submitted a letter to the editor in 2006. During the year 539 letters were published. Seventy-nine were signed by more than one person, so almost 620 people took advantage of the opportunity to voice their opinion.

Additionally, 93 people wrote more than one letter. Boyd W. Thomas and Barney W. Hill had the maximum of one per month per writer published. Van W. Brinkley and Dwayne A. Ingram Sr. had 11 each.

The Dispatch publishes almost all the letters it receives. Besides the one-letter-per-month rule, letters are limited to 500 words or less. Poetry and anonymous letters are not used.

Bob always included the wording of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in the editorial that accompanied the list of letter writers. It bears repeating:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Newspapers play a key role in promoting that freedom of speech. By allowing readers to voice their opinions, newspapers distribute their voices further than they could on their own. Now, with the Internet, those opinions can reach around the world. Indeed, some of the letters that appeared in 2006 originated from far away but dealt with local topics.

I want to thank everyone who submitted a letter to the editor during 2006. I hope that even more people will do so in 2007 and continue our community conversation.

<p>Bob Stiff, who served as executive editor of The Dispatch for more than 10 years before retiring in February, began a tradition of publishing the names of everyone who wrote a letter to the editor during the previous year. It brings attention to the number of people who added their voice to the community dialogue about a multitude of topics.</p><p>I want to continue that tradition, so appearing here today are the names in alphabetical order of everyone who submitted a letter to the editor in 2006. During the year 539 letters were published. Seventy-nine were signed by more than one person, so almost 620 people took advantage of the opportunity to voice their opinion.</p><p>Additionally, 93 people wrote more than one letter. Boyd W. Thomas and Barney W. Hill had the maximum of one per month per writer published. Van W. Brinkley and Dwayne A. Ingram Sr. had 11 each.</p><p>The Dispatch publishes almost all the letters it receives. Besides the one-letter-per-month rule, letters are limited to 500 words or less. Poetry and anonymous letters are not used.</p><p>Bob always included the wording of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in the editorial that accompanied the list of letter writers. It bears repeating:</p><p>"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."</p><p>Newspapers play a key role in promoting that freedom of speech. By allowing readers to voice their opinions, newspapers distribute their voices further than they could on their own. Now, with the Internet, those opinions can reach around the world. Indeed, some of the letters that appeared in 2006 originated from far away but dealt with local topics.</p><p>I want to thank everyone who submitted a letter to the editor during 2006. I hope that even more people will do so in 2007 and continue our community conversation.</p><p>- Chad Killebrew, executive editor</p>